Metrc allowing rampant illegal marijuana activity, lawsuit claims

Metrc, the nation’s leading seed-to-sale tracking software provider, is “participating in a conspiracy” that allows unchecked “illegal interstate” marijuana sales, a former company executive is claiming in a federal whistleblower lawsuit.Marcus Estes, who worked as an executive vice president at Florida-based Metrc for about a year, alleged in a lawsuit filed on April 4 in U.S.

District Court in Oregon that the company fired him after he shared what he believed was “evidence that Metrc was violating California and federal law, and enabling others to violate California and federal law.” ADVERTISEMENT Among Estes’ claims is that Metrc does not identify questionable activity in its data to regulators despite its $40 million-a-year contract with California requiring the company to “flag irregularities.” The lawsuit seeks damages and attorney fees.Metrc responds to ‘campaign of retaliation’ Metrc, which is the chosen seed-to-sale vendor in 20 U.S.

cannabis markets, has yet to respond to Estes’ claims in court, according to records.But in a statement to MJBizDaily on Thursday, Metrc said that “while normally we would not comment on ongoing litigation, these claims are so baseless that they warrant a response.” “This former employee was let go due to performance issues,” the statement continued, “and, in response, he engaged in a retaliatory campaign against the company that required Metrc to take active steps to protect its systems and customers.

“This lawsuit is just a continuation of this former employee’s campaign of retaliation, and the falseness of these claims will be proven in court.” ADVERTISEMENT Estes is also the defendant in a separate but related employment lawsuit brought by Metrc.In that case, filed in May 2024 in Florida, Metrc is seeking the return of a $100,000 signing bonus it paid Estes after acquiring his soft...